Melbourne Radio Ratings: GfK Survey 5

3AW 15.2%: While 2GB is often the most-mentioned asset in the Macquarie Media group, 3AW continues to lead the Melbourne market as it has done for much longer than 2GB. The only advertiser movement at the Melbourne station is people wanting to get on. Ross and John continue to have the biggest metro breakfast share in Australia with 18.6%. The biggest improver at the station this survey was Denis Walter who looked in danger of losing his program at one stage when there was speculation new 2GB afternoon host Steve Price would have his program networked. That didn’t happen and Walter’s share was up 0.9 to 12.8% this survey.

101.9 Fox FM 10.2%: Fox and its breakfast show Fifi, Fev and Byron are market leaders for a second consecutive survey and they and Fox have both now won three of five surveys this year. In drive Dave Hughes has increased his lead where he has been piloting the show with guest hosts – drive share jumped 1.2 to 12.3%.

Gold 104.3 9.8%: A good survey for both the station and Christian O’Connell in breakfast. The former Absolute Radio UK star recorded his second best breakfast share after ending 2018 on 8.4%. The station leads the FM market in afternoon where its share of 12.3% was up 1.1.

smoothfm 91.5 9.4%: After slipping under 9% for the first time in a year last survey, smooth recovered chiefly thanks to a big jump in morning share where 8.5% became 9.9%. Like its Sydney station, Melbourne too has a surprisingly high share 10-17, with a rise from 6.2% to 10.1% this survey.

Nova 100 7.2%: Breakfast with Chrissie, Sam and Browny is suddenly a major player at #2 FM with share up 0.4 to a best-ever 8.6%. Despite that surge, overall station share was down 0.3 to 7.2% after a fall of 1.6 in both morning and afternoon. Kate, Tim and Marty were overtaken by smooth drive and they now rank #4 FM in the market.

KIIS 101.1 FM 6.7%: Jase and PJ at breakfast are taking the station into unchartered territory with share up 0.7 to 7.2% which is easily the best in at least four years and maybe since records starting being kept! That growth helped boost 10+ share to 6.7% which is the best result since 2017. The station got a massive bump 18-24 this survey with share up 5.9 to 18.7%.

105.1 Triple M 6.4%: The station has seen a handful of results this low over the past few years. What is different this time though is that Triple M is now the lowest-rating FM station 10+ and at breakfast in the market. Drive lost the gains it made last survey, with share now down 0.8 to 6.4%.

SEN 4.5%: This is the sports station’s highest 10+ share since 2016 when it recorded 4.6% twice. The breakfast show with Garry Lyon and TimWatson was also up with 4.8% the best breakfast share in over four years. Morning and afternoon shares were also up, with drive steady on 4.2%. Morning with Gerard Whateley posted its best result since 2015 with a share of 5.3%. Afternoon is now hosted by Jack Heverin after Andy Maher moved to drive with new co-host Bob Murphy.

Macquarie Sports 0.2%: While the numbers were up a little at sister station in Sydney, the needle didn’t move here 10+ or in breakfast. If Jimmy Bartel talks about his life in the tabloids the numbers might climb above 0.1%.